A camping trip planner from campsite to camp menu
Planning a camping trip means finding a site that is open and has what you need, checking fire bans and weather, then remembering every bit of gear and food. Hand it to your agent: it shortlists campsites, plans simple camp meals with a shopping list, and builds the gear checklist.
The prompt
- Plan a camping trip near [AREA] for [DATES] for [GROUP]. We'll be [CAMPING STYLE]. We need [SITE NEEDS]. Find 3 campsites with links, how to reserve, facilities and distance to water, trails or the beach. Check the weather forecast and any fire bans or wildlife rules for that area. Make a simple meal plan for all meals on [COOKING SETUP], with a shopping list by store section, and a gear checklist based on the weather. Add a short leave-no-trace reminder. Give me a PDF and the checklist as a Word file I can edit. Don't reserve anything.
What to change
- [AREA]: A park, region or city, e.g. "Lake Tahoe", "the Lake District", "within 2 hours of Austin".
- [DATES]: E.g. "Friday June 6 to Sunday June 8".
- [GROUP]: E.g. "2 adults and kids aged 5 and 9", "3 friends and a dog".
- [CAMPING STYLE]: "car camping", "backpacking 2 nights", "in a campervan", "glamping".
- [SITE NEEDS]: E.g. "showers, dogs allowed, shade, near a lake, electric hookup".
- [COOKING SETUP]: E.g. "a two-burner stove and a cooler", "one backpacking stove", "campfire".
Example result
- Camping near Lake Tahoe, Friday June 6 to Sunday June 8
- Car camping · 2 adults, kids 5 and 9 · needs showers, shade, near the lake · two-burner stove and cooler
- Forecast: sunny, 24 °C days, 6–8 °C nights. Campfires: check the current restrictions on the forest service site before you go.
- 3 campsites
- • State park campground on the west shore: showers, short walk to a sandy beach, sites reserved months ahead
- • Forest service campground near Emerald Bay: shady pines, vault toilets, showers nearby for a fee, close to trails
- • Private campground on the south side: hot showers, camp store, more crowded, easier last-minute
- Rules to know
- • Bear country: all food, coolers and toiletries go in the bear box, never in the tent or car overnight
- • Quiet hours usually 22:00 to 6:00; check-in time on the reservation
- Meal plan
- • Fri dinner: pre-made chili warmed on the stove, cornbread
- • Sat breakfast: pancakes with berries, coffee and hot chocolate
- • Sat lunch: wraps at the beach (prep in the morning)
- • Sat dinner: foil-packet sausages, potatoes and peppers on the stove or grill, s'mores if fires are allowed
- • Sun breakfast: egg and cheese breakfast burritos
- • Sun lunch: sandwiches on the drive home
- Shopping list (by section)
- • Produce: berries, peppers, onions, potatoes, apples, lettuce
- • Fridge: eggs, cheese, sausages, milk, butter
- • Dry: pancake mix, tortillas, bread, cornbread mix, marshmallows, crackers, chocolate, coffee
- • Other: ice, foil, zip bags, paper towels, biodegradable soap
- Gear checklist
- • Tent, footprint, stakes, mallet
- • Sleeping bags rated to 5 °C or colder, sleeping pads, pillows
- • Stove, fuel, lighter, pot, pan, cooler, water jug
- • Head torches, camp chairs, a tarp for shade
- • Warm layers and hats for the evenings, rain jacket, sunscreen, bug spray
- • First-aid kit, kids' medicine, tick remover
- Leave no trace
- • Pack out all trash, keep to the trails, and leave the site cleaner than you found it
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and add your area, dates, group and camping style.
- Paste it in todo.is on the Today screen, or send it to your agent on WhatsApp.
- Get a PDF with campsites, rules, a meal plan and shopping list, plus an editable Word checklist.
- Reply with "add a vegetarian option" or "we're bringing the dog" to update it, then reserve the site yourself.
Tips for a better result
- Popular campsites open reservations months ahead, often at a set hour. Ask your agent to remind you that morning.
- Plan for the coldest night, not the average. A sleeping bag rated too warm means a sleepless night.
- Prep and freeze the first night's dinner at home. It doubles as an ice block in the cooler.
- Do a test pitch of a new tent in the garden or park before the trip.
camping trip planner: FAQ
- What should I bring on a first camping trip? Shelter, sleep system, a way to cook, water, warm layers, light and a first-aid kit cover the basics. The gear list in this prompt adapts to your weather and style.
- How do I find a campsite with availability? Your agent searches campsite and park reservation pages and gives you links. Popular sites sell out fast, so check the booking window and reserve yourself.
- Can it check fire bans? It searches for current fire restrictions for the area when it plans. Rules change quickly in dry weather, so check the official land manager's site before you light anything.
- Can I plan a backpacking trip with this? Yes. Say "backpacking" and the number of nights, and the agent plans lighter meals, water sources and a weight-conscious gear list.
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